Ferrara Bible
The Ferrara Bible was a 1553 publication of a Judeo-Spanish version of the Hebrew Bible used by Sephardi Jews. It was the initiative of Yom-Tob ben Levi Athias and Abraham Usque. It was largely paid for by the 16th century entrepreneur, Dona Gracia, the world's wealthiest woman at that time, and includes a poetic dedication to her.
This version is a revision of a translation that had long circulated among Spanish Jews. It is more formally entitled Biblia en Lengua Española Traducida Palabra por Palabra de la Verdad Hebrayca por Muy Excelentes Letrados, Vista y Examinada por el Oficio de la Inquisicion. Con Privilegio del Ylustrissimo Señor Duque de Ferrara.
Two editions were printed simultaneously, one dedicated to the duke, and one for the Jewish public dedicated to Gracia Mendes Nasi.
Language
The translation follows the Hebrew syntax rather than that of everyday Judaeo-Spanish. It is written in the Latin alphabet, with diacritics, which distinguishes it from other bibles printed in Constantinople in Hebrew script.The tetragrammaton is translated as A..
It was a basis for the 1569 translation of Casiodoro de Reina as shown in the "Amonestacion al Lector" found before the biblical text written by the translator himself wherein he writes the following: